Key and keyhole illumination



May 14 1940 P. scHEcHTER 2,201,127.

KEY AND KEYHOLE ILLUMINATION Filed March 8, 1959 INVENTOR PH/Z/P 5CH.cf/refe BY /77 /.7

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 14, 194@ UNITED STATES n annui raren'r vori-*iceApplication March 8,

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to doors and more particularly to keysand their cooperative locks therefor and it is the purpose of thisinvention to provide means by which the key and keyhole and/or keyholeguard of a look can be illuminated to render them clearly visible in thedark, whereby to obviate the delay and annoyance attendant the eiort ofsearching for the keyhole in a darkened location.

Further objects are to so designate a key and keyhole with indicia thatthe correct corresponding operative positions thereof for insertion ofthe key in the juxtaposed hole are instantly obvious; to additionallymark a key or identication tag thereof with indicia to render thedesigna tion illuminated for identity when the key may be on a key boardin a darkened location, etc.; to protect said illuminated indicia fromWearing off as caused by use in handling the key and keyhole; to providemeans for removably fastening said indicia to said parts; and to providea device of the class hereinafter referred to which is simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, strong, durable, economical and easy tomanufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawing forming part thereof.

In the drawing,

Fig. .1 is an elevation View of a key showing illuminated indiciathereon.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1, showing indicia on theedge thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross section view taken on line l--ll of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the forward end part of a key.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a lock showing a tumbler cylinder and guardtherefor.

Fig, 7 is a fragmentary section view, taken on line I--l of Fig. 6, of atumbler showing the key 1939, serial No. 260.486

Fig. 1l is a fragmentary view of the end of a key handle having indiciaand cover and means for removably fastening same to the key.

Fig. 12 is a section view taken on line IZ-EZ of Fig. 1l.

Fig. 13 is a section view taken on line l3-I3 of Fig` ll, showing amethod of removably fastening the removable indicia.

In the drawing this invention is shown for the purpose of illustrationassociated with a conventional cylinder lock lil, and key Si therefor. Akeyhole I2 and shield guard I3 therefor is also conventionallyillustrated. The lock I@ may have an outer plate mi, or escutcheon plateand may also have an outer tumbler plate It?, in any of which the outerkeyhole slot portion may be formed.

I prefer to carve into said key I I, certain marks or indicia HI, whichmay generally correspond, if desired, with similar carved marks on thekeyhole plate placed in close proximity with the keyhole. For example, Iprefer to place an elongated groove III (see Figs. 2 and 5) as shown inshoulder face H2, or other part of said key which groove may bepartially lled with an illuminating paint IM, or the like, which may becovered with a protective coat of transparent plastic or the like H5,having properties resisting wear thereof. It is seen that such groove isarranged to not interfere with the function of said shouln der I I2, inoperating the key in the keyhole, the groove being beneath and occupyinga small part of the lateral area of said upper shoulder face. It isnoted that said upper face H2 enters only the upper cooperating portionIZI, of the slot I2 and thus this illumination is seen only from aboveby the operator when correctly inserting the key in the slot. The key isthus marked to aid in its correct and instant guidance into the slot.Particularly is this true if only the upper edge portion of the keyholeslot is correspondingly marked. This will tell the operator to place theilluminated edge or point of the key to abut the illuminated edge of thekeyhole.

The markings may be of any kind and may be on any face or edge or partof the key as for instance shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 8a.; is shown a guard i3, having a ring ISI, which may house aremovable protecting cover H5, kover the removable or non-removableilluminated paint I It. Fig. 9 shows such a ring, rousing a removablecover and removable indicia on a guard. Fig. 10 shows a method of gluinga transparent cover over a removable disc of indicia.

Fig. 11 shows a method of marking a key by mounting a removable sheet ofindicia in a slot H1 in the key, the sheet H4, being greater in crossWidth than the distance between the slots H1, so as to exibly holditself in place as is understood by one skilled in the art. A Washer II8, may be inserted in counterbore D to hold said indicia in place, theWasher being of the split type to flexibly expand to t the Wall of thecounterbore. (See Fig. 13.)

A ring such as |3| may itself be so illuminated and removably aixed toI3, |02, or I0, or the outer circumferential edge of said members may beimpressed with illuminating matter.

Parts may be used Without others and it is intended the disclosure isillustrative rather than limitative. i

`paint and covering materials being conned in said grooves, said indiciabeing marginal joining marks adapted to register with correspondingmarks on the respective parts only when the parts are in correctrelative position for entry of the key into the slot.

PHILIP SCHECHTER.

